Blueberry plant named ‘NS 16-15’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally as ‘NS 16-15’ is described, with a fruiting type on one-year-old shoots only and an early vegetative bud burst timing, and which produces fruit considered medium in sweetness under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.

Latin name: Vaccinium hybrid.

Variety denomination: The invention relates to a new, novel, and distinct variety of blueberry plant, a Vaccinium hybrid, with a variety denomination hereinafter as ‘NS 16-15’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119 to Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Application No. 2019/1983 for Community Plant Variety Rights, filed on Aug. 15, 2019 for a blueberry plant with a variety denomination of ‘NS 16-15’, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY

The new variety of blueberry plant resulted from an ongoing development program of plant breeding conducted to identify such plants. The purpose of the program was to improve the commercial quality of blueberry plants and other plant species. To this end, controlled, hybrid, cross-pollinations were made in order to produce plant populations from which improved progeny were evaluated and thereafter selected.

The ‘NS 16-15’ blueberry plant was originated and selected from a population of new plants growing on the breeder's property, which is located at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia. The new variety of blueberry plant was derived from a controlled, hybrid, cross-pollination of the seed parent, blueberry plant ‘EB 9-4’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,334), and a pollen parent, blueberry plant ‘EB 8-46’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,173) during the 2013 growing season.

PRIOR VARIETIES

The seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ is characterized principally by a semi-upright to intermediate growth habit, a medium vigor, a very early season first pick date, and further produces large- to very-large-sized, firm, high sweetness, and low to medium acidity fruit under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Also, the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ exhibits a very early date of bloom time and a last pick date in February of the following year under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Further, the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ is evergreen and produces fruit on one-year-old and current season's shoots.

The pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, on the other hand, is characterized principally by an intermediate growth habit, a medium to strong vigor, an early season first pick date, and further produces very-large-sized, firm to very firm, high sweetness, and low acidity fruit under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Also, the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’ exhibits an early date of bloom time and a November last pick date under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Further, the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’ is semi-evergreen and produces fruit on one-year-old and current season's shoots.

ORIGIN

The seed from the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ produced approximately 2,400 plants following cross-pollination. These new plants were then grown at the aforementioned property, and fruit from these new plants was first observed in 2015. A subsequent assessment of these same self-fertile, new plants conducted during the 2016 growing season led to selecting the ‘NS 16-15’ variety for additional evaluation in 2017, which led to selection for further evaluation.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

The further evaluation included an asexual vegetative propagation, by vegetative cuttings, at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia. Subsequent evaluations of the newly derived plants in the 2018 growing season led to a conclusion that the ‘NS 16-15’ variety was a distinct and new variety of blueberry plant found to be true to the original plant. The new variety of blueberry plant was considered to be novel in view of its fruiting type on one-year-old shoots only, early vegetative bud burst timing, and medium sweetness fruit.

COMPARISONS

In comparison to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia, the new variety is noteworthy. In this regard, the seed parent produces fruit on one-year-old and current season shoots. However, the new variety of blueberry plant produces fruit on one-year-old shoots only. In addition, the seed parent has a vegetative bud burst considered to be very early. In contrast, the fruit of the new variety of blueberry plant has a vegetative bud burst considered to be early. Further, the seed parent produces fruit considered to be high in sweetness. This is in contrast to the fruit of the new variety of blueberry plant, which is considered to be medium in sweetness.

In comparison to the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’ under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia, the new variety is noteworthy. In this regard, the pollen parent produces fruit on one-year-old and current season shoots. However, the new variety of blueberry plant produces fruit on one-year-old shoots only. In addition, the pollen parent and the new variety of blueberry plant both have a vegetative bud burst considered to be early. Further, the pollen parent produces fruit considered to be high in sweetness. This is in contrast to the fruit of the new variety of blueberry plant, which is considered to be medium in sweetness.

The new variety of blueberry plant is readily distinguishable from the most closely related, known variety, the ‘EB 8-42’ blueberry plant described in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,858, filed Jun. 12, 2013, titled “Blueberry Plant ‘EB 8-42’,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In this regard, the closest known variety ‘EB 8-42’ produces fruit on one-year-old and current season shoots. However, the new variety of blueberry plant produces fruit on one-year-old shoots only. In addition, the closest known variety has a vegetative bud burst considered to be very early. In contrast, the fruit of the new variety of blueberry plant has a vegetative bud burst considered to be early. Further, the closest known variety produces fruit considered to be medium to high in sweetness. This is in contrast to the fruit of the new variety of blueberry plant, which is considered to be medium in sweetness.

The comparisons described above are summarized in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Summary of Comparisons ‘EB 9-4’ ‘EB 8-46’ ‘NS 16-15’ ‘EB 8-42’ (Seed) (Pollen) Fruiting on one- on one-yr-old on one-yr-old on one-yr-old type yr-old and current and current and current shoots only season shoots season season shoots shoots Vegetative Early Very early Very early Early bud burst timing Fruit Medium Medium to High High sweetness high

In addition, Table 2 below compares the ‘NS 16-15’ variety to several sibling cultivars that resulted from same the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ and pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, namely, ‘NS 15-5’ (U.S. Plant Pat. App. No. 17/087,369), ‘NS 15-13’ (U.S. Plant Pat. App. No. 16/990,818), and ‘NS 15-22’ (U.S. Plant Pat. App. No. 16/991,651).

TABLE 2 Comparison to Sibling Cultivars ‘NS 16-15’ ‘NS 15-5’ ‘NS 15-13’ ‘NS 15-22’ Fruiting type on one- on one-yr-old on one- on one- yr-old and current yr-old yr-old shoots only season's shoots only shoots only shoots Vegetative bud Early, Early, Early, end Early, end burst timing mid-Jun end of May of May of May Fruit Medium Medium Medium Medium sweetness Fruit size Large Large to very Large Large to large very large Fruit acidity Low Very low to Low to Low low medium Fruit firmness Firm Medium Medium to Medium firm Plant vigor Medium to Strong Medium to Strong strong strong Fruit cluster Dense Medium to Sparse to Medium density dense medium

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are color photographs of the new blueberry plant ‘NS 16-15’ during the second year of growth under the ecological conditions prevailing at the breeder's property, which is located at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph, which shows fruit, blooms, leaves, and a portion of a vegetative stem of the new blueberry plant ‘NS 16-15’, the fruit being sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment. This photograph also depicts the fruit size and the color of the ripe fruit, two leaves showing the sizes and the upper and under side colorations thereof, two blooms at different stages of maturation, and additional leaves on the stem at different stages of maturation.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph, which shows the new blueberry plant ‘NS 16-15’. This photograph depicts a mature bush with ripe and unripe fruits, the fruit size, and the upright growth habit of the bush. The ripe fruit is sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment.

The colors in these photographs are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. Due to variations in color printers and/or chemical development, processing and printing, the colors of the plant parts depicted in these photographs may, or may not, be accurate when compared to the actual specimen. For this reason, color references are made to the color plates (Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Sixth Edition, hereinafter, “R.H.S.”) and descriptions provided.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION Not A Commercial Warranty

The following detailed description was prepared solely to comply with the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, and does not constitute a commercial warranty (either expressed or implied) that the present variety will, in the future, display the botanical, horticultural, or other characteristics set forth herein. Therefore, this disclosure may not be relied upon to support any future legal claims including, but not limited to, breach of warranty of merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose, or non-infringement, which is directed in whole, or in part, to the present new variety of plant.

Referring more specifically to the botanical features of this new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, the following has been observed during the second year of growth under the ecological conditions prevailing at the breeder's property, which is located at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia.

-   Plant: General.     -   -   Vigor.—Considered medium to strong for the species.         -   Growth habit.—Considered semi-upright. This is in comparison             to the commercial variety ‘Bluetta’ (unpatented), which is             considered to be semi-upright.         -   Average size of plant.—0.84 meters in height by 0.50 meters             in width.         -   Internode length (space between nodes).—Considered short to             medium, 16.4 millimeters (mm).         -   Bark color.—RHS Brownish Orange Group 167A.         -   Color, one year old shoots.—RHS Strong Yellow Green Group             N144D.         -   Fruiting Type.—On one-year-old shoots only, in like manner             to commercial varieties ‘Darrow’ (unpatented) and ‘Patriot’             (unpatented). This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB             9-4’, the pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, and the closest known             variety ‘EB 8-42’, wherein the fruiting type is on             one-year-old and current season shoots. -   Foliage: General.     -   -   Average leaf length.—Considered medium for the species, 57.0             mm.         -   Average leaf width.—Considered medium for the species, 25.9             mm.         -   Color of leaf upper.—RHS Dark Yellowish Green Group 139A.         -   Color of leaf underside.—RHS Pale Yellow Green Group N138C.         -   Vein color of plant leaf.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145B.         -   Venation pattern of leaf.—Pinnate reticulate.         -   Leaf apex texture.—Glabrous.         -   Leaf apex shape.—Acute.         -   Leaf base shape.—Acute.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf arrangement of plant.—Alternate.         -   Petiole length.—3.25 mm.         -   Petiole diameter.—1.97 mm.         -   Petiole color.—RHS Light Yellow Green 145C. -   Flowers:     -   -   Number of flowers/inflorescence.—4-5         -   Length of inflorescence (excluding pedicel).—Considered             long, 10 mm.         -   Corolla shape.—Urceolate.         -   Corolla tube surface texture.—Ridges are present on the             corolla tube.         -   Average corolla length.—Considered medium, 10.5 mm.         -   Corolla diameter.—8.45 mm.         -   Corolla aperture size.—5.47 mm.         -   Corolla color.—RHS White Group NN155B.         -   Pedicel color.—RHS Strong Yellow Green Group N144C.         -   Pedicel length.—7.42 mm.         -   Average calyx diameter.—Considered small, 3.42 mm.         -   Average calyx basin depth.—Considered shallow, 1.0 mm.         -   Attitude of sepals.—Erect.         -   Type of sepals.—Straight. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Size of pollen anthers.—4.34 mm.         -   Color of pollen anthers.—RHS Brownish Orange Group 165B.         -   Pistil length.—7.09 mm.         -   Pistil color.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145B. -   Fruit:     -   -   Color of unripe fruit.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 145C.         -   Color of fruit skin.—RHS Bluish Black Group 203C, also             considered “dark blue” in like color to the commercial             variety ‘Heerma’ (unpatented), after removal of bloom.         -   Color of ripe fruit flesh.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group             145C.         -   Color of seeds.—RHS Dark Reddish Orange Group 175C.         -   Average fruit size.—19 mm in diameter and 13.05 mm in             height.         -   Average weight of fruit.—2.6 grams.         -   Berry shape.—Considered oblate.         -   Sweetness when ripe.—Considered medium for the species. This             is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ and the pollen             parent ‘EB 8-46’, wherein the sweetness is considered high.             This is also in contrast to the closest known variety ‘EB             8-42’, wherein the sweetness is considered medium to high.         -   Firmness when ripe.—Considered firm for the species.         -   Acidity when ripe.—Considered low for the species.         -   Cluster density.—Considered dense for the species.         -   Average fruit production.—3 kilograms on a two-year-old             bush.         -   Storability of fruit.—Considered excellent for the species.         -   Market use of fruit.—1st grade fresh market fruit.         -   Date of bud burst.—This variety is evergreen under the             ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western             Australia, but a bud break occurs in mid- June, which is             considered early for the species. This is comparable to the             pollen parent ‘EB 8-46’, wherein the bud burst is also             considered early. This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB             9-4’ and the closest known variety ‘EB 8-42’, wherein the             bud burst is considered very early.         -   Date of bloom time.—This variety is evergreen under the             ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western             Australia, but a bloom time occurs in mid-July, which is             considered early on one-year old shoot in like manner to the             commercial variety ‘Weymouth’ (unpatented).         -   Duration of bloom time.—4 to 6 weeks.         -   Beginning of fruit ripening.—considered early on             one-year-old shoot in like manner to the commercial variety             ‘Blueray’ (unpatented).         -   First pick date.—The observed date of the first pick is             approximately September under the ecological conditions             prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.         -   Last pick date.—The observed date of the last pick is             approximately November under the ecological conditions             prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.         -   Pollination requirements.—Self-fertile.         -   Resistance to pests and disease.—No particular resistance             noted. The variety has not been tested to detect any             resistance.

Although the new variety of blueberry plant possesses the described characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia, it should be understood that variations are to be expected in the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control, frost, climatic variables, and horticultural management. 

Having thus described and illustrated a new variety of blueberry plant, what is claimed to secure a plant Letters Patent is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described, which is characterized principally as to novelty by a fruiting type on one-year-old shoots only, by an early vegetative bud burst timing, and by producing fruit considered medium in sweetness under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia. 